The management of varicella-zoster virus exposure and infection in pregnancy and the newborn period

Zoster immunoglobulin (ZIG) should be offered to pregnant, varicella-serone gative women with significant exposure to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (chi ckenpox) infection. Oral aciclovir prophylaxis should be considered for susceptible pregnant wo men exposed to VZV who did not receive ZIG or have risk factors for severe disease. Intravenous aciclovir should be given to pregnant women who develop complic ated varicella at any stage of pregnancy. Counselling on the risk of congenital varicella syndrome is recommended for pregnant women who develop chickenpox. ZIG should be given to a baby whose mother develops chickenpox up to 7 days before delivery or up to 28 days after delivery. Intravenous aciclovir should be given to babies presenting unwell with chic kenpox, whether or not they received ZIG. Breastfeeding of babies infected with or exposed to VZV is encouraged. A mother with chickenpox or tester does not need to be isolated from her ow n baby. If siblings at home have chickenpox, a newborn baby should be given ZIG if its mother is seronegative. The newborn baby does not need to be isolated from its siblings with chicke npox, whether or not the baby was given ZIG. After significant nursery exposure to VZV, ZIG should be given to seronegat ive babies and to all babies born before 28 weeks' gestation.